A Career In The Renewables Market With Green Certification

Would you enjoy helping others to save money and look after the environment? Gain professional qualifications in 'green skills' and such a career can be yours. People are increasingly looking at green energy systems to reduce their CO2 emissions - within twelve months from now you could be a certified installer of energy efficient equipment.

Current global fuel supplies have a limited lifespan. Householders in the developed world know changes will have to come soon. Consumers are becoming more educated on alternative methods and resources for powering their homes.

British householders can get government grants for certain energy efficient improvements. As well as being good for the planet, this is also very good news for domestic installers with the right certifications and expertise.

So be sure to get details of the 'green' elements in any plumber or electrician training course you're considering. If you're already in the trade, you can tune-up your knowledge and add to your current offering.

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Maximising Our Natural Resources

Modern technology is considered green when it utilises resources that are naturally replenishable. Sunlight, wind, the tides and geothermal heat are all naturally replenishable, and thereby 'Green'. Windmills and waterwheels have been around for a long time, but modern technology can now take advantage of solar power and geo-thermal energy to power homes and businesses. People with the right skill-sets are becoming increasingly in demand to implement these.

Solar Energy

Solar thermal systems can utilise free heat from the sun to warm up household water. As the technology has been available for a while, we now have a large number of systems to choose from. A UK family could expect to get most of their hot water from a modern solar system from June to September. This lessens their impact on the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by something like 400 to 750 kg a year. Solar collectors come as either flat plates or evacuated tubes. Installation is quite straightforward - in fact some of the tubular versions can be built whilst actually on the roof. Another use for solar power is to create electricity. For this, we need photovoltaic or PV panels.

Once again, the panels should be fitted to a south facing roof or wall, along with an inverter in the loft to convert the DC electric current to AC. From there the AC electric is connected to the electrical consumer panel that delivers electricity around the house. Approximately forty percent of a household's electricity can be produced with a photovoltaic system. Users can therefore benefit financially over time as well as ecologically. Any solar electricity that isn't used up can either be stored in batteries for a cloudy day, or sold back to the National Grid. The going rate for PV electricity has been increased by the government in 2010, which makes for a better return on the original investment of the system. Clearly the latitude of the property will impact how much energy is generated. So will the direction the panels are facing, the overall size of the PV array and any obstructions which block the light.

Naturally Stored Heat

Ground Source Heat Pumps create heat sources from solar energy that naturally exists in the earth. Collector piping is placed down in the earth and fed with a special non-damaging solution that can't freeze. The heat arrives at the connecting heat pump because the solution warms as it flows around. This heat can be used to warm the water for heating systems.

Householders will experience lower fuel bills if they install a ground source heat pump. Also, if they're replacing an oil boiler, they could produce 540kg of CO2 less a year.

Developing All The time

Training courses in 'green collar work' will teach in-depth skills in all the important areas. As well as basic certification in domestic plumbing and electrical work, you'll cover legal requirements, health & safety plus how and where government funding can be applied. You should acquire the right skills and accreditations to able to work with solar thermal and solar PV systems, and geothermal heat pumps.

Courses in domestic green skills and qualifications are developing fast, to keep up with the increased demand caused by government incentives. If you have a special interest in water recycling, look for options that include rainwater and grey water harvesting.

Security For The Future

Every home being sold in the UK must now have an Energy Performance Certificate which states it's current consumption and advises on ways to become more efficient. Savings in some cases can run into thousands of pounds a year. The government will give out grants when certain systems are installed by properly qualified installers.

That's merely the beginning though. Within the next six years, all new homes must generate at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources to be legally compliant. We can't ignore the changes that must inevitably come, so why not get ahead of the crowd and secure your future now?